Hello friends,
I feel as though each time I begin an entry I apologize for the time passed since my last update and I am afraid that this one will be no different. So...sorry. Anyway life has been pretty exciting and eventful this past month both in Khossanto and the greater Kedougou Department. To begin with we got three new volunteers (1 in the sector of Agroforestry and 2 Sustainable Agriculture, trees vs. crops really). All 3 are great guys and have already become a welcome addition to our little community here. Its also been both interesting and rewarding for me to lose my "freshman" status so to speak and move up in the ranks of peace corps. In many ways I still have an enormous amount to learn about living in this country and doing the work I am doing. At the same time, to see our new volunteers in their first few weeks and the issues and challenges they are dealing with makes me understand just how far I've come already. It is thus a milestone of sorts and while uplifting its also a little scary to think that I'm already coming up on my nine month mark in Senegal given how quickly the time has gone by.
School in Khossanto is finally in full session and I've finally been able to begin with this whole Environmental Education work I was sent all the way out here to do. The head of my program came down from Dakar a couple weeks ago two do a series of trainings with my teachers and villagers on a number of things. From techniques for incorporating environmental lessons into the curriculum of the Senegalese school system, to lobbying, to forest management, he covered a number of topics, and it was extremely well recieved. However the overall point of his visit was, through discussing these various topics, teaching my village how best to use me as a resource and means of accomplishing their various goals. This has helped me a tremendous amount and I have already done my first multiday lesson on managing malaria. While a little complicated we basically took an arithmetic lesson and had the kids collect data on the number of malaria cases over the last 5 years, and used those numbers to teach the lesson. While this is only the first in a series of lessons, it has exposed the kids to the health post and the nurse in the village (we took a field trip to the post, and I think its safe to say this was probably one of the first field trips ever taken at my school), and has simply showed them the sheer numbers of cases both monthly (for purposes of comparing different seasons) and yearly; this all in learning their daily math lessons. It was a pretty positive start and I'm really looking forward to developing this specific topic more along with doing other such lessons for other topics.
Other big news in my village was a demonstartion against the gold mining companies nearby during which the villagers blocked the road and didn't let any of the trucks traveling from Kedouogu to the mines get through. They were protesting generally the fact that the companies have been hiring people from Dakar and other places up north, while neglecting the people in the surrounding community. While mostly non violent, things heated up when the president of the rural community came out to try and discuss the issues, and they were so mad at him for apparent support he has given the companies in the past, that they tore all of his clothes off and sent him back to Kedougou with the police. I didn't witness the actual fact but they had torn his clothes up into tiny pieces so that everyone there could have a piece and for the rest of the day they were all parading around with little strips of cloth tied like rings are bracelets on their hands. They ended up lifting the road block at the end of the day and are currently in the porcess of developing a commision for hiring, so it will be interesting to see how this ends up.
Otherwise had an incredible thanksgiving in Kedougou with friends around here. We had about 15 volunteers, 4 chickens, 3 ducks, tons of yams and squash, stuffing, and other thanksgiving fare. While its always hard not to be home for the holiday we really made the most of it here on our end. As soon as I can figure out how to get my pictures up again I'll give you a little preview.
Heading to Granada to meet with my parents and my brother for new years, which should be absolutely awesome, so thats the next big thing I'm looking forward to. I've been getting a lotta questions about when I might make a trip back to the good ol' U.S. of A and as of now I'm thinking maybe next summer or Christmas, but as of now no time real soon. Feel free to come on out though if you are so inclined, the days are still warm but nigthts have been nice and cool although that hot season is right around the corner. Thanks again to everyone for all of your kind words and wishes, and especially tasty packages, and I'll be in touch again soon.
much love to you all,
willie